How was your screening? [NO spoilers]

POSTED BY: Jeremy757
UPDATED: Monday, May 30, 2005 22:59
VIEWED: 9475
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JEREMY757

Friday, May 27, 2005 4:47 PM

So me and my brother Greg went to the screening last night in Dallas.

We had a good time. We got in line about 9 pm or so and still got good seat when we got in.

None of the cast members where there, but the lady that wrote Finding Serenity (or some lady who works for the author) was there giving away copies of the book.

It was interesting to note that a couple of people showed up that said they weren't going to be able to stay for the movie. They went up and down the line trying to give there tickets away, but no one took them. So they just went to the box office and got refunds.

The movie was great. Better then I hoped for and more then I deserved. It looks pretty much complete it just needs a lot of color correction and some of the graphics need to be cleaned up.

Anyway I took a few picks on my camera phone, Ill try to post them later.

KNIBBLET

Friday, May 27, 2005 5:10 PM

Here is what Channain sent out to our Minnesota Independents group on Yahoo.
***

Wow - what a night! Not to worry, for them as couldn't go to the screening last night, this isn't about the movie itself - awesome as it was. Nope, this is ALL about us.

I did indeed ditch my Art History class. When a ticket falls into your lap for the event of the year - or pre-event for the year - it's definitely worth risking a slight dip in GPA. Happily, I didn't have to manufacture a story, or relay my "lame" reason for leaving. I told my instructor I had to leave at 9:00P and that was it. Don't ask, don't tell - he didn't, and neither did I.

Barbara Knibblet gave me a huge hug the second I walked in the door, even before she gave me my ticket. We got munchies and went in and no sooner had we sat down than she began singing "Hero of Canton" I love that - that I had someone else who not only sings well sitting next to me (cuz I don't sing by my own self) but also understands WHY.

Laura MoonMagic who humored us both - and was all bouncy giddy in her seat. Every time I looked at her, she was smiling, either in bemusement or delight.

Doug WarMaster - without whom I wouldn't even be there. Who knew that hosting a party at MarsCon and facilitating sales for Todd Coss, artist GoH, would lead up to this. I broke a rule, see, and took artwork out of the art show. I have it written in my own rules - no artwork leaves the show once it's in. But this was the Firefly party, and the artwork were limited edition prints of the Firefly-theme badge art for the con. Not only that, but Todd was there to sign the prints. Doug bought number 1 of 5. Thinking back on it now, I remember being handed the money before I had a chance to finish my announcement. Thanks again Doug *HUG*

Sara Hell's Kitten - Oh my gosh, how cute were you in your Kaylee garb? And how cool to bring *STUFF* for Doug. She knows how to treat a fella right, I'm thinking.

Damon and Becki who came all the way from St. Cloud, waving at me furiously from the top row of the theatre.

Ericka, who got to sit next to the truly shuai Simon lookalike. I knew I heard someone calling my name when I went out to find the necessary. At the time I thought it was Becki, but there she was - the girl who single-handedly handed out more fliers to the sweeks at the EpIII midnight show than all the fellas combined.

Travis, you are a true mercenary my friend - I mean that in a good way - savvier by far than the average Browncoat. Where there's a Firefly event in town, you're going to be there, and that's all there is to it.

And, saving the best for last; Ron Glass. He really is better looking in person, but also warm, charming, and an absolute joy. Turns out he has acting roots in Minneapolis, having performed at the Guthrie Theatre. I wonder what he'll think when he sees it during his visit
today.

At the Episode III screening, I was a lone browncoat in a sea of sweeks. At the Serenity pre-screening, it felt like I was among family. It just doesn't get any better than that.

MERRIEB

Friday, May 27, 2005 6:08 PM

My boyfriend and I went to the screening in Austin (having driven in from Houston). I do have a couple of complaints, and not about the movie. We got in line at 9 pm, a full hour before they let us into the theater. By the time they started letting us into the theater, the line ahead of us had doubled. People were "saving places" for others, and it got out of control. So when we got inside, the only empty rows were the first two. Even seats in the good parts were being saved for others. So I watched the movie from the second row. I would do it again, to see the movie.

But I am disappointed that common curtesy seems to have fallen to the wayside. We were all excited to see this movie and enjoy the experience, but some people seemed to think they deserved peferential treatment. Since when do we not wait our own turn in line? I was pretty upset then, though my boyfriend tried to calm me down. We went to so much effort to get to the show, and then got screwed because we didn't have friends to save us a place at the front of the line. Not that I would have cut ahead in line anyway. That's just rude and I try to never be rude.

Sorry about my little rant. It's been bugging me since last night. :) Despite all of that, seeing Serenity was worth every bit of hassle we went through! Can't wait until September.

CHANNAIN

Friday, May 27, 2005 6:30 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by MerrieB:
We got in line at 9 pm, a full hour before they let us into the theater. By the time they started letting us into the theater, the line ahead of us had doubled. People were "saving places" for others, and it got out of control. So when we got inside, the only empty rows were the first two. Even seats in the good parts were being saved for others. So I watched the movie from the second row. I would do it again, to see the movie.

But I am disappointed that common curtesy seems to have fallen to the wayside. We were all excited to see this movie and enjoy the experience, but some people seemed to think they deserved peferential treatment. Since when do we not wait our own turn in line? I was pretty upset then, though my boyfriend tried to calm me down. We went to so much effort to get to the show, and then got screwed because we didn't have friends to save us a place at the front of the line. Not that I would have cut ahead in line anyway. That's just rude and I try to never be rude.

Sorry about my little rant. It's been bugging me since last night. :) Despite all of that, seeing Serenity was worth every bit of hassle we went through! Can't wait until September.

The same thing happened at the Episode III midnight premiere last week. Only I was with the Knights of the Northern Realm, a Star Wars group who had been contracted by the theatre to do some costuming around the theatre while the lines gathered. The compensation for the group was being able to enter the theater first and an entire row was reserved. It's the least they could do, just for the three people who spent six hours in Storm trooper armor, posing for pictures. We got "booed" as we went in, because by then the Knights were back in their civies, and those who were "booing" probably didn't realize they'd just taken a picture with one or six of them no less than 20 minutes sooner.

I saw it too - friends joining friends in the line, and seats being saved. Seems to be the way of it, so I don't think it's so much a question of courtesy as a matter of tradition. When screenings are either exclusive or at special times like that, the only advantage viewers have is where they end up sitting in the theater.

I'm not trying to justify what went on, just trying to explain the why of it. If someone budges in line, I get tetchy myself, and there should have been staff on hand to limit the amount of it - reasonably speaking, of course. But the truth of it is, that's just not what happens.

Last night, for instance, I said that Knibblet had my ticket - she had also saved my seat so I could sit with my group (the Minnesota Independents) and not way down front, all by my lonesome, with folks I didn't know.

I draw...therefore I am. http://www.mnartists.org/artistHome.do?rid=7922
Live in Minnesota? Join the Group! Yahoo Group, that is...
http://tv.groups.yahoo.com/group/MN-Firefly/

PERIDIDDLE

Friday, May 27, 2005 7:08 PM

The Kansas City screening was AWESOME. About 20 people arrived before 5:45, then it stopped for a bit...then suddenly the line was huge and it got insane. Meeting all the fans was lots of fun, there were costumes, random discussions, snow planets...tons of fun to go around. The fan insanity was to the breaking point by 9:25 when they let us in the theater. The universal reps were great, too.

I ended up singing all of 'Hero of Canton' by myself to the entire theater before the movie started. People sang along with the chorus, but apparently only I knew the rest of the words...it was kind of interesting. Someone put their Jayne hat on me, yep, and THAT event made my night.

"Bwaa...it's kind of a warrior...strikes fear into the hearts of..."

FINNIEN

Friday, May 27, 2005 7:13 PM

A friend of a friend of a friend (don't ask me how something so improbable actually happened) ended up being generous-to-the-point-of-insanity, and gave my brother and myself two tickets to the screening.

So, after work, we drove from Fresno to Sacramento for the screening. We did not have the longest drive - there was a group from San Diego who had made a slightly longer trek.

Of course, award for the farthest from home went to a poor bastard from Canada. We were rather speechless when Nathan Fillion showed up.

Well, ok, we cheered. But mentally, speechless.

Overall, the movie was everything I'd hoped it to be. The screening was more than I could have hoped for. Nathan was fun, witty, did a lengthy Q&A, and generally just made the whole event more spectacular. And afterwards, he autographed a little promotional mini-poster, shook every single audience member's hand, and said a few words to everyone individually.

I don't know about the rest of you, but I can't think of any other movie where the actors treat their fans like that.

It was an amazing experience. The movie was great (no spoilers! Argh! So much to talk about!) and the screening was better than I could have ever hoped.

Now just HOW long do I have to wait before I can see it again? PAIN!

KNIBBLET

Friday, May 27, 2005 7:24 PM

I think that anything can be abused and any courtesy can be ground into the dirt.

I used to sleep out for St. Paul Saints tickets. It was infuriating to sleep out for two days and the morning the box office opened, have the first 10 people in line turn into the first 100 people in line as their entire families and circle of friends would show up and 'join the fun'.

I have nothing against one person or a group saving a place for a single late comer (Channy who had a class).

What I don't like is when a group seems to think it's cool to double their numbers just 'cause they're already in line. I was NOT amused yesterday when just before the doors opened, 6 people joined their friend who had waited for hours.

What the Saints did was pass out tickets showing your place in line. Each person was allowed to have ONE extra. But then, with 6800 some odd seats, that's a lot more to go around than one small theatre.

Next time we're having one of these, I'm calling the theatre manager to ensure that we don't have this again. There will be a LARGE sign posted, "NO LINE JUMPING".

"I'm gonna rip you a new puppet hole, bitch!"

EMBERS

Friday, May 27, 2005 7:29 PM

Finnien: I heard a rumor that in DC the theater owner asked someone if they would be back for the Jun 9th advanced screening! LOL

Anyway, I saw the BDM for the second time (don't stone me, I was dragging my brother along!), and it is EVEN BETTER the second time around!

We had Summer Glau at the screening, and she is incredibly beautiful in person and so sweet! It really was added excitement in an extremely exciting evening.

If there are future screenings? Don't wait until 9pm to get in line, I know you think an hour ahead is a lot of time, but by 7:30 in Chicago there were a lot of people in line, and most of them were taking turns holding places for friends who were getting something to eat....

CHANNAIN

Friday, May 27, 2005 7:44 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Knibblet:
Next time we're having one of these, I'm calling the theatre manager to ensure that we don't have this again. There will be a LARGE sign posted, "NO LINE JUMPING".

Better we find ourselves a large Jayne-like fella wearing a "NO LINE JUMPING" T-shirt... you know, I just might know of a couple...

I draw...therefore I am. http://www.mnartists.org/artistHome.do?rid=7922
Live in Minnesota? Join the Group! Yahoo Group, that is...
http://tv.groups.yahoo.com/group/MN-Firefly/

CHANNAIN

Friday, May 27, 2005 7:45 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Finnien:
Of course, award for the farthest from home went to a poor bastard from Canada. We were rather speechless when Nathan Fillion showed up.

Well, ok, we cheered. But mentally, speechless.

*whimper*

Was he as pretty in person?

I draw...therefore I am. http://www.mnartists.org/artistHome.do?rid=7922
Live in Minnesota? Join the Group! Yahoo Group, that is...
http://tv.groups.yahoo.com/group/MN-Firefly/

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